I received my Bachelors of Art in Psychology with an Emphasis of Mental Health and minor in Sociology from Doane College in Crete, Nebraska. I then received my Educational Specialist Degree (Ed.S) in School Psychology from The University of Nebraska at Kearney. I have my NCSP (Nationally Certified School Psychologist). This is my 11th year as a School Psychologist and have been with ESU 16 that entire time. For 11 years I have been a Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (CPI) Instructor. I am part of our Nebraska Crisis/Safety Team and ESU 16 Crisis Response Team Coordinator. Being a School Psychologist has been a lifelong dream of mine. I have always wanted to be an advocate for students. I am able to help in the area of academia, behavioral, social-emotional, and mental health. My hobbies include playing golf and tennis, reading, gardening, and baking. 

I received my Bachelor of Art from the University of Nebraska of Kearney (UNK)  in 1998 with an emphasis in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology.  I received my Master of Science in Education in Community Counseling in 2002 and then an Education Specialist degree in School Psychology in 2004.  I published a professional research scholarly study, Training and Competency Comparisons of Multicultural Consultation Skills of Nebraska School Psychologists in 2004 through UNK. In August of 2023, I obtained my Dyslexia Specialist Certification from the University of Nebraska in Omaha (UNO). I have been a school psychologist since 2003 working within rural schools, private schools, and larger school districts. In addition to being a full-time school psychologist, I am a Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (CPI) Instructor and a Crisis Response Team member for ESU 16.  I have my NCSP reflecting national certification as a school psychologist and am also a member of the Nebraska School Psychologist Association (NSPA). My counseling internship included specialized clinical social work training in the inpatient unit and adolescent/adult partial care through Great Plains Health.  I have extensive training in Autism including both evaluation and programming needs.   I can support academic assessment and intervention along with behavioral and social-emotional support within the classroom.  I have a strong understanding of the Multi-tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and Structured Literacy supports. I am passionate about learning and forming relationships with families, children, and my colleagues. Without relationships, education and positive change are not possible! I enjoy swimming, scrapbooking, and traveling to softball and baseball tournaments with my husband and two teenagers!

I received my Bachelors of Science in Business Administration with an Emphasis in Management from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. I then received my Masters of Science in Education (MS Ed.) in Clinical Therapy from The University of Nebraska at Kearney. This is my thirteenth year as a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner and I have been with ESU 16 for 3 years. I am part of our ESU 16 Crisis Response Team. I previously worked for Mid-Plains Behavioral Healthcare in the roles of Foster Care Therapist and Intensive Family Preservation Therapist. I also worked in private practice for 6 years
My hobbies include running, fishing, camping, and growing pumpkins at Homestead Pumpkin Patch.

I received my bachelor degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Nebraska at Kearney and had a glorious 24 year career in law enforcement with the bulk of my career with the Grand Island Police Department. I spent 5 years on the SWAT team and 9 years in the drug unit where I made many friends, no really, I did. My final years were as a Sergeant Conservation Officer (Game Warden) out of North Platte. While with the Grand Island Police Department I pursued a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduating in 2012. I have a passion for helping people and was fortunate to join ESU 16’s Mental Health Team in January 2022. I truly love working with and helping people as well as anything involving the outdoors, in my free time I enjoy digging post holes for my wife at the Homestead Pumpkin Patch.

I have been working with students for around 20 years. Throughout my journey in education, my passion for wanting to further help students and families grew and grew. I found myself drawn towards the counseling path. After having been a teacher and school counselor. I completed a CACREP graduate program through the University of Nebraska-Omaha. I then gained my license to practice mental health in 2015. I was in private practice for three years, gaining experience in trauma, domestic violence, anxiety, depression, grief, couple and family counseling. As time went on in private practice, I found myself providing services to clients in their schools more and more. For some students, this was the best way to help them and their families. Eventually, I was very blessed to have the opportunity to work with ESU16. I absolutely love being able to work with families and schools to best help our children as these are huge components of a child’s identity and well-being.